Spiked shoe cover



April 11, 1967 J. A. SVIEN 3,313,047

SPIKED SHOE COVER Filed Nov. 17, 1965 Jens A. Sw'en INVENTOR.

M (ME Allumey;

United States Patent 3,313,047 SPIKED SHOE COVER Jens A. Svien, 424 s. 47th St., Belleville, ru. 62223 Filed Nov. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 508,261 4 Claims. 01. 36-73) This invention relates to an improved readily applicable and removable cover, more particularly, a special purpose overshoe for sport shoes, for example, a golf shoe provided, as usual, with anti-slipping calks, spikes and cleats.

An object of the present invention is to improve upon similarly performing prior art spikes guards, protective shields and covers and, in so doing, to provide an adaptation which is not only appealing to manufacturers and retailers, but well serves the needs and purposes of users. It follows that a golfer wearing the herein disclosed overshoes is enabled to go indoors (clubhouse or elsewhere) without having to remove his golf shoes, as would otherwise be necessary or required. Then, too, the user can wear these unique overshoes with comfort and safety while riding in or driving an automobile without risking damage to the carpeting or interior components thereof.

One improvement which greatly assists in solving certain of the problems present, it is submitted, in generally analogous prior art accomplishments has to do with the fact that the overshoe, being made of an appropriate moldable grade of gum rubber, is possessed of the requisite degree of elasticity, so much so that but four sizes have been found necessary to properly fit spiked golf shoes ranging from size 6 through size 12. This versatile aspect of the concept insures the provision of an aptly suitable readily applicable and removable overshoe which conforms with requisite nicety to the shape and width of the shoes regardless of shape, width or type of construction. It poses no problem when being put on the shoe and can be neatly folded or stored in ones golf bag when it is not necessary for use.

In carrying out the principles of the invention this self-adapting feature is enhanced by the fact that a relatively narrow shank portion functions to connect the adjacent ends of the sole and heel components of the overshoe. Then, too, and further contributing to this highly flexible function is the added factthat opposite portions of the overshoes upper are provided with relatively large cutouts which orient with the narrow shank and which define relatively narrow bands above the cutouts which well serve their easy-folding function.

A significantly important feature resides in the inner sole means. This means is characterized by fixedly mounted components; namely, a first pliable or pliant lamination which provides a durably tough pad for the heel spikes and which is fixed atop and overlies the heel portion, and a second correspondingly tough but pliant lamination, which functions as a second pad and overlies and is fixed atop the sole portion. These spike seating pads, while rugged and tough, are nevertheless amply pliant to permit the spikes to bear upon the pads without, of course, becoming embedded or penetrating and impairing the serviceability of the pads.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a spiked shoe cover construction in accordance with the invention and showing how the same is worn when in use;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken on the plane of the longitudinal section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

3,313,047 Patented Apr. 11, 1967 FIGURE 3 is a cross-section on the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view on a smaller scale showing the overshoe by itself; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in side elevation showing one manner in which the highly flexible overshoe can be folded upon itself for compactness, convenience and storage.

The overall improved overshoe is denoted by the numeral 8 and resembles, at least in general appearance, the type of overshoe worn on footwear of all types. The component of the bottom constituting the forward part is designated as the sole portion 10 and the companion component as the heel portion 12. Adjacent ends of these two components or portions are connected by a highly flexible relatively narrow arch portion which is here designated as the shank 14. The approximate width of this shank is best shown in FIG. 4. The integral and com plemental portion is here designated as the upper and comprises a conformably fitting heel part or counter which is designated at 16. The toe portion is denoted at 18. It will be observed that opposite median areas or zones are provided with relatively elongated cutouts 20 which not only relieve the median side portions of the upper but define relatively narrow elongated straps or bands 22. It follows that the bands 22, cutouts 20 and narrow shank 14 coordinate and orient themselves in contributing the desired features of high flexibility and foldability. When extended for use the overshoe has the appearance illustrated in FIG. 4 and when folded for handling and storage (in ones golf bag, for example) it takes the general shape illustrated in FIG. 5.

The inner lining means, which is of the utmost in importance in this case, may vary from the construction shown but is preferably of the character best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. It will be noted in this connection that the rear lamination, which is uniform in thickness and also of requisite thickness, constitutes and provides a first pad herein called the heel pad 24. This pad is adhesively attached to the interior of the heel component 12 and permits the spikes to rest without penetration, as shown.

This pad completely covers the interior surface of the part 12. The complemental and companion lamination 26 also constitutes a pad and it likewise covers the interior surface of the sole portion 10 and is afllxed thereto and is of requisite thickness to permit the coacting spikes (calks or cleats) to rest atop the same in the manner already described.

It is submitted that a careful reading of the specification in conjunction with the views of the drawing and the invention as claimed will enable the reader to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter of the invention, features and advantages. Accordingly, a more extended description is regarded as unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use on and in conjunction with a golf or similar shoe wherein the sole and heel components are provided with protruding anti-slipping spikes, calks or cleats; a readily applicable and removable spike covering, shielding and protecting means comprising: an overshoe made of highly elastic material and embodying a sole portion, shank portion and heel portion and integrally attached companion interconnected counter and toe portions capable of yielding and stretching in a manner to conformingly and fittingly accommodate shoes of varying sizes, shapes and types of construction, and inner sole means built into the bottom of said overshoe atop the interior surfaces of the heel and sole portions, respectively, said sole portion, shank portion and heel portion are imperforate to prevent contact between the spikes and a walking surface, and said interconnected counter and toe portions including relatively narrow connecting bands adjacent the upper edge thereof for enabling yielding and stretching of the counter and toe portions.

2. The overshoe defined in claim 1 and wherein said shank portion is relatively narrow compared to the heel and sole portions whereby the overall overshoe can be compactly folded upon itself and accordingly neatly stored in the users golf bag when out of use, said counter and toe portions forming an upper, opposite lengthwise side wall portions of said upper situated between said toe portion and heel counter being provided with significantly relatively large cutouts defining comparatively narrow connecting bands between the edge portions of said toe and heel counter portions, whereby to facilitate folding said overshoe in the manner and for the purposes set forth, said inner sole means being pliable but amply rugged and tough that even though the spikes come into contact therewith said means resists penetration and remains intact, whereby the thus covered shoe can be safely worn indoors without damaging floor surfaces or coverings therefor.

3. The structure according to claim 2, and wherein said overshoe is molded in one piece from lightweight gum rubber possessed of such elasticity that only four sizes are required to properly and conformingly fit all sizes of golf shoes ranging from 6 through 12.

4. The overshoe according to claim 2, and wherein said inner sole means comprises a first and a second pad means overlying and atop said sole portion, said pad means corresponding in size and shape and amply covering their respectively cooperable heel and sole portions and being of uniform thickness.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,811,781 6/1931 Degge 36-1 14 2,076,316 4/1937 Beals 36l14 2,142,981 1/1939 Richards 367.3 2,958,963 11/1960 Lougheed 36--114 PATRICK D, LAWSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. FOR USE ON AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH A GOLF OR SIMILAR SHOE WHEREIN THE SOLE AND HEEL COMPONENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH PROTRUDING ANTI-SLIPPING SPIKES, CALKS OR CLEATS; A READILY APPLICABLE AND REMOVABLE SPIKE COVERING, SHIELDING AND PROTECTING MEANS COMPRISING: AN OVERSHOE MADE OF HIGHLY ELASTIC MATERIAL AND EMBODYING A SOLE PORTION, SHANK PORTION AND HEEL PORTION AND INTEGRALLY ATTACHED COMPANION INTERCONNECTED COUNTER AND TOE PORTIONS CAPABLE OF YIELDING AND STRETCHING IN A MANNER TO CONFORMINGLY AND FITTINGLY ACCOMMODATE SHOES OF VARYING SIZES, SHAPES AND TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION, AND INNER SOLE MEANS BUILT INTO THE BOTTOM OF SAID OVERSHOE ATOP THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE HEEL AND SOLE PORTIONS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID SOLE PORTION, SHANK PORTION AND HEEL PORTION ARE IMPERFORATE TO PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE SPIKES AND A WALKING SURFACE, AND SAID INTERCONNECTED COUNTER AND TOE PORTIONS INCLUDING RELATIVELY NARROW CONNECTING BANDS ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF FOR ENABLING YIELDING AND STRETCHING OF THE COUNTER AND TOE PORTIONS. 